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Description

This route is the second bolted route from the right on the Crystal Wall. The first bolted route on the right is Fantastic Voyage which I believe Craig Luebben put up. Tour de Poudre is well-bolted, goes about 100 feet for the first pitch, and has two rap anchors at the top. The first pitch goes around 5.10a/b. The second pitch is a bit shorter and more difficult. The second pitch is also well-bolted, has rap anchors, and goes around 5.12b/c. I am not absolutely sure of these ratings, although I feel they should be close.

Location

This is the second bolted route from the right.

Protection

All you need for pro is quickdraws and a daisy chain, cowtail, etc.

Per Elijah Flenner: a 70 meter does not get you down if you link pitches.

I'm really surprised to find here and in the NCCC guide that P1 is supposed to be 10a/b. I had just climbed Silver Girl (10c) and felt that was a good rating... I didn't have any trouble with it so I was pleased to see that P1 of TdP was supposed to also be good and well within my ability range. But hit one section of TdP, roughly in the middle where I began to doubt my route finding skills thinking "that's not what I call a 10a move". Then again just a few feet beyond the second to last bolt (I think that's where it was) I hit a section that I thought was surely in the 11 range. I'll have to try it again with fresh eyes... maybe I missed something.
Sep 27, 2010

I remember pitch one climbing a lot like Monstrosity over at the Palace. Blocky, good holds, but no great opportunities for rests, closer to solid 5.10 than 5.10a. The second pitch is definitely thin and sustained, but I'm not sure it warrants a rating as hard as 12c.
May 21, 2011

Jon, I think what you were missing at the second to last hold is that it's much easier to go right and use crimps rather than go left into that crack that has the ton of chalk in it. That way it's a 10a to me.
Oct 16, 2011

Did P1 today on-sight. The variety on the route is great! I did some reaching to avoid some hard spots and keep moving, some shorter girls did it after me and I'm sure chose different moves. Off and on pumpy, but enough places to stand for recovery. I'd give it a 10b on average - but you can probably make it a or c depending on how you solve it.

A condition report from 5 days ago said that a bolt was loose, I didn't notice. Ooops?
Jun 1, 2012

If you're planning to only climb the first pitch, I believe it's 11 bolts before the chains. I was thrown off by the "climb past seven bolts..." phrasing in the NOCO guide, and subsequently had to stop and lower off the 8th bolt on my first attempt.
Oct 6, 2014

Certainly not as hard as ODK, making it a stretch at 5.12a. B or c would be ludicrous. If you're pushing 5.12-, don't be scared away by the 12b consensus.

I'm 5'5" and didn't find a reachy move on it. Huge feet are everywhere so just walk 'em up if you're short.

The 5.10 section felt hard for 10a, in contrast to the supersoft grade on the upper pitch.

Easily combined in a single pitch, rope drag is minimal.

With a 70, you can climb in a single pitch and lower to first chains and either pull the rope, or belay your second up from that anchor. If you do this option, just be careful - it's a full 70 to reach back down to first chains, and getting lowered off the end from there would be (likely) fatal.

Also, nothing against the first ascentionists who bolted it perfectly and found the best line at the cliff... but still, I think 4 stars is a stretch even for the Poudre. A lot of medium quality 5.10 climbing with one or two V3 moves with a bolt in your face.... Meh, I don't know. Echelon stuff is better, as well as some Palace routes. I'd say worth doing if you're there, but prob not worth a special trip just for this climb.
Oct 17, 2017